Work Text:
Working at a clothing boutique truly is ideal, Shizuku thinks, as she adjusts the skirt on the mannequin in front of her. It's usually Kohane or Saki-chan's job to style the mannequins, but they've both been drafted to gather intel on one of their newer Gangler targets— and Mizuki is nowhere to be found. A common occurrence on both fronts, but Shizuku doesn't mind too much. The shop isn't hard to tend to by herself, and it's almost soothing to run her fingers across the damask. As she does, visions of running those fingers across chiffon— chiffon she hadn't sewn, was thrust into her hands in a dressing room— dance behind her eyelids, and she hesitates. The quiet comfort of the shop has never been the goal. To get too comfortable is to lose sight of that.
Just as those thoughts start to cross her mind, itching to join Kohane and Saki-chan with their scouting, the store bell chimes. It draws her out of her thoughts like pulling one from near drowning, a breath escaping her as if to say she has yet to be swallowed by the water. The voices coming from the door aren't that of her fellow thieves, so as she finishes with the mannequin, she screws her head on straight.
"I'll be with you in just a moment! I'm finishing up here, and then—" the words aren't even out of her mouth before she hears a quiet intake of breath. That alone is enough to make her jerk her head towards the door. Anxiety bubbles up in her chest, and all the fears of being caught, being a thief, come to a head.
Instead, the dusty pale-blue sky meets a bright ocean when her eyes meet those of an with an all-too-familiar face. She can almost feel the water filling her lungs.
"Hinomori-san? Is that you?" Haruka Kiritani asks, titling her head curiously. She's dressed in a suit that Shizuku can only describe as flattering, but... still, there's something about it that makes Shizuku's stomach twist in unease. Kiritani's assessing gaze, scanning both Shizuku and the shop, does nothing to help the feeling. "I didn't realize that you worked here. It's a nice boutique."
At the compliment, she can feel her chest swell a little with pride- the water in her lungs subsiding a little, instead of drowning- smiling down at Kiritani with a firm nod. "Thank you very much. Me and my-" she hesitates, unsure of what to call her co-conspirators. They are friends, aren't they? It isn't a lie to call them that. She's sure they'd look past her saying as much, either way. "My friends and I are quite proud of what we've put into it."
"Your friends? Are they here now? It looks like it's just you."
"Ah, yes," Shizuku says, idly dusting lint off of her pants to keep her thoughts from wandering. "They're out at the moment. I'm not the main tailor, but I do have sewing knowledge. I can help you with anything you need."
Kiritani looks over, curious. "They're not here?" She considers this for a moment, before continuing on."If it isn't stepping beyond my bounds, may I ask what they're like? No one has really seen you since..."
Her voice trails off, and neither of them need her to continue to know what she meant. The ocean in her eyes no longer seems like the welcoming sight beyond the shoreline, but instead the depths below where Shizuku can feel seawater filling her lungs. Shizuku's smile tightens at the corners, the sparkle in her eyes dulling just a fraction. It's been years since she's been the revered Shizuku-sama, but the feeling of putting on a face that isn't quite her own still comes to her. Not quite easily, but enough. "That is-"
"Haruka!"
Before she can continue, however, she's interrupted by another call from the door, and several pairs of shuffling feet. A girl with dark hair dragging in a girl with (absolutely beautiful) silver hair, and another with orange hair grumbling as he trails behind. When Shizuku sees the girl with dark hair- Shiraishi An, if memory serves- the unease from before settles into place. The water exits her lungs, and the storm in her heart stills into a quiet stillness. An angry sea, calmed only by the cold depths below.
The amateur detectives that have nearly cost her the dream she so desperately clings on to have wandered into her boutique, and it takes everything within her not to let out a cry. Yet she maintains her composure, giving them a polite smile and wave, turning to Kiritani with something much sharper. Something with a lot more fang. "It seems you've made some new friends as well, Kiritani-san. I suppose we both wanted to stay hidden after everything, and I suppose neither of us quite got our wish."
Kiritani is taken aback for a moment, then at least has the decency to look sheepish. The waves in Shizuku's stomach crest and rescind, pulling back. The sailors have been pulled from their boat. There's no need for her to be on the offensive anymore. Instead, she gently starts to inspect a blouse on one of the racks, noticing the stitching has come loose. She removes it and folds it over her arm, noting to have Mizuki repair it later. As she does, she turns to the three detectives at the door, softening at the edges.
"My apologies for not welcoming you three in," she starts, tilting her head to the side with a pleasant smile. "Welcome to La Boutique en Rose."